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Published: July 12th 2014
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This entry will be short as I am going to try to get to bed well before 3 am tonight because tomorrow morning I leave for the beach...with Pablo. Keep in mind people that we are only friends but I know a picture is still in order. My dilemma is this: if I take a photo with my camera, I can't upload it to my ipad until I return from my trip. The alternative is to take my iPad to the beach which just sounds like a terrible idea. I will figure something out.
In any case, I made it to the Hassam Al Andalus baths and it was breathtaking and relaxing! upon my arrival, I was handed two blue plastic bags and was asked to put them over my shoes and to wait in the waiting room so that I could be escorted to the baths with my group. I sat in a beautiful waiting room that was illuminated with candles and was decorated with ornate Moroccan pillows. I was invited to have some fresh Moroccan mint tea while I waited.
Our small group was escorted downstairs to the women's changing rooms and then
we were shown the three different pools--one hot, one medium temperature and one cold. We were instructed to shower before entering. The baths were set in what appeared to be a large cave with dome ceilings and stone floors. The ceilings were ornamented with Arabic detailing and all rooms were dim and steamy. The place was very clean (from what I could see through the steam). Unfortunately I was not able to take any photographs while I was there as photos were prohibited. I left feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
While at the baths this evening, I had a lot of meditative time to myself. In fact this entire trip so far has been both wonderful and strange for that reason. It's been so long since I've had so much down time to think--it's like my brain doesn't really know what to make of it. Not that I don't typically think--that was weird wording--but just a lot of time to be Introspective. Very contemplative. My reading and music choices have reflected the same. I recently re-read Siddhartha and am about three quarters of the way through with Kerouac's On The Road. I also brought Amanda Vaill's Everybody Was So Young (more of a period-piece love story) and was lent The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (not sure yet how I feel about this although Oprah loved it...so there's that).
On my itunes I've been listening a lot to Andrew Bird and Tallest Man On Earth and then I had one night where I was all about Cat Stevens radio on Pandora. I think that may be due in part to the fact that my dad and I watched him get inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on t.v. a day or two before I departed for this trip. But that doesn't explain why Joni Mitchell came on and I really enjoyed it. I mean truly. Shouldn't I be listening to something along the lines of Enrique Iglesias Instead? But seriously, I am loving the flamenco music I hear at all hours of the day and night and the live performances especially in the Plaza de San Nicholas. It doesn't get much better than that--beautiful music set against a picturesque backdrop with the afternoon sun beating down. I'd love to fall asleep right there in the square if getting mugged wasn't a possibility.
I've attached two pictures here of the musicians I stumbled upon this afternoon.
Speaking of which, the formatting on this blog site is odd. It doesn't allow me to select where I'd like to insert my photos...so here I'm talking about the baths and you're seeing photos of flamenco singers. Sorry :/
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RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew
Granada is the best!
Hi Courtney, I stumbled upon your blog earlier today and have since read all nine of your posts! Looking forward to following your adventures...more food photos please :) Cheers Ren p.s welcome to travelblog!